First and foremost ... my health and i've heard if your children grow up round smokers they have a higher chance of smoking?! So also my children

Money ... I smoke approx 10 - 15 a day ... I can't believe how much money i'll save

You never or very rarely see an old smoker!

But what has made me more determined than ever before is my friend who found out early this year he had cancer, he is in his thirtys ... things were looking really positive after a bout of chemo then I spoke to him the other day only to find out it hadn't worked ... don't get me wrong they're still hopeful that another bout of chemo will work ... but to go on from this a friend of a friend is only 40 and she developed lung cancer and doesn't have long to live ... I so desperately want to see my children grow up and one day my grandchildren ...

and this is my motivation to give up smoking ... it's only taken 16 years but this is the right time for me and I believe it has to be the right time for you ... and you'll know when it is!

I'm sorry if this is a bit heavy ... hopefully it'll give encouragement to people that read it to stay strong and not to give in to the temptation of a ciggie!!!

Shelley thats some heavy stuff but its the truth. I am really hoping to stick to this quit because I am in my 30s now and starting to feel the health effects and realize it will only get worse. It is important to hear these stories as a reminder.

as far as the eating I think we are all doing a little bit or grazing but will end up better off.

Yes heavy stuff It was almost like the other day when I spoke to my friend it hit me hard in the face ... generally I would say I'm quite a happy go lucky person ... but I guess I had a wake up call and this was it, much like most people on this forum I have tried several nrt's and some have worked shortterm but this time I just feel differently ... more focused, but like sometimes I just need to read the reasons in black and white because I soooo desperately want a ciggie and there's no rationalising with the brain is there?! :confused: I guess this is the long version of what Buffy said